On Sunday July 10, 2011, women's soccer captured the attention of Americans everywhere as the United States defied the odds in a late game comeback to defeat Brazil in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup. In the weeks to follow, Wambach, Solo, and Rapinoe became household names while girls all over the country dreamed of being the next Alex Morgan. Unfortunately, a lot can change in six months. On Monday January 30, 2012, WPS, the league where all those household names play, suspended operations for the 2012 season.

Since it was first revealed that WPS was closing shop for the foreseeable future, most of the attention has been spent playing the blame game. Dan Borislow. US Women's National Team. WPS. The list goes on. The blame game can be fun, but it's not necessarily what is needed to bring back women's professional soccer in 2013. First it was only rumors, but now with different players coming forward, it is obvious there were major issues involving Dan Borislow, but that is a conversation for a different time. The problems within magicJack do not cover up the fact that WPS has other issues that need to be addressed. The league has only been around for three years, yet four teams have become defunct.

WPS and its franchises now have a great opportunity to spend the next year fixing mistakes from the past without worrying about selling tickets. Spend that time developing a stronger brand that reaches people involved in women's soccer. Questions need to be asked about the marketing of WPS, and if answered properly, it should be clear the league has a lot of work to do in that area. Ask a 14 year old girl that plays premier soccer to name the five clubs in WPS, and her answer will be "what is WPS?". If the league wants to be here in 10 years, that is the number one area that needs to be addressed. Fourteen-year old girls should be seen as fans, customers, and future players. The MLS Academy program has done wonders for MLS on and off the field with increasing brand image, reaching local communities which increases revenue streams, and ultimately with home grown players. Could that be the answer for WPS? Not necessarily, but reaching out to youth soccer players and coaches would be a great start for the league.

One other area that goes hand-in-hand with marketing is the effort of those household names to promote WPS. Wambach, Solo, Morgan, Rapinoe, etc., are the face of women's soccer in America and if the league is going to survive, those players need to be the driving force. The past few months when WPS was faltering to survive, all were silent. When women's soccer fans think of Hamm, Lilly, Foudy, etc., the image that comes to mind is always of them wearing the red, white, and blue of the US National Team jersey. If WPS makes it, then in 15 years time, the legacy that will be left behind by this next generation of American stars will be one of them in a WNY Flash or Sky Blue uniform. Winning the World Cup and the Olympics has been done before in America, but building a women's league to last hasn't, that's how players can become legendary.

With the fourth season of WPS being canceled, it now leaves coaches and players scrambling to find other opportunities. Soccer Banter asked a few people directly involved with WPS the following question: What are your thoughts on WPS suspending operations for the 2012 season?

Manya Makoski (Western New York Flash Defender): I was in shock when I found out that WPS was suspending operations for the 2012 season. We knew all along that it was a possibility, but we all thought that it would just work out. I am disappointed for all of the players who now have to find new teams to play for, and for the fans who won't get to see the best players in the world compete on U.S. soil. It is frustrating to see the blame be put on one person or on the league. I am guilty of that too, but I would love to see all of that energy put into organizing a 2013 WPS season.

Lee Billiard (Boston Breakers Associate General Manager): It is obviously disappointing for a number of reasons that WPS suspended play for 2012. Disappointing for the players who were just gearing up to show off their talents, disappointing for the younger players just starting to break through and build a career for themselves, disappointing for the young generation who are developing a love for the game and aspiring to be the next Abby Wambach, Kelly Smith or Marta, and disappointing for all of us involved in the organizations that work hard to provide supporters a place to come and watch top female athletes perform. WPS unfortunately hit a few hurdles in a short space of time, whilst a lot of hard work was done in order to get over the hurdles it continued to delay a lot of required forward progress which was starting to have an impact on other areas. It is very sad we will not have a professional league this season, but I do understand the league’s thinking behind the decision and what they will be doing during the suspended season in order to clear all hurdles and comeback ahead of the 2013 season better than ever before.

We, Boston Breakers, were in a very good position both on and off the field, we have a loyal set of supporters and players who continue to follow us each year, for that I would like to say a personal thank you. We are investigating other options that might include a Boston Breakers team competing in 2012. We want to make sure we keep our brand alive, a place for players to compete and a place for supporters of women’s soccer to continue cheering on the fine athletes this beautiful game produces. I am extremely disappointed for what has happened, but have great optimism for the future.

Paul Royal (Philadelphia Independence Assistant Coach and La Salle University Head Coach): I'm very saddened by the decision to suspend operations this year. We (Independence coaching staff) really feel awful for the current WPS players, coaches and college players that have had their dreams and livelihoods put on hold for a short time. However, I feel very confident that these five great owners have their heart and passion in the right place in growing our pro game in 2013. They have been tremendous advocates for not only Women's Pro Soccer, but also women's athletics in general.

Do you think WPS will be back in 2013? What are your thoughts on the future of the league? Add your own comments below.

In the US, there are so many other sports and opportunities, particularly in the major cities, that the competition is too steep. In my opinion, instead of Boston, Atlanta, Washington, New York...etc. they should have gone to the smaller markets where youth soccer rules. Raleigh, Rochester, New Jersey, Connecticut, Milwaukee, Southern California. Follow the lead of youth soccer and the WPSL and make it regional, but expand for the playoffs. This would save considerable overhead (which in turn could free up money to pay players) and enable some strong rivalries to form. In the EPL, travel is relatively easy. Not so in the USA and the economics of distance dictate regional conferences that are part of a national league. If I'm not mistaken, the Breakers largest crowd came when they played in CT at Willowbrook Park. Just my two cents...

Reply

Tim

2/1/2012 04:17:10

Great point on the current USWNT crop (the Wambachs, Rapinoes, etc.): their legacy, in addition to winning, must be their contribution to building an enduring professional league. These players need to leverage their individual profiles on behalf of the league to ensure that they too have a place to play.
I like Matt's point about smaller markets and would further it by suggesting that a new league might impose even tighter geographical confines for its clubs, with reduced travel, emerging rivalries and better focused media coverage as potential outcomes.

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